Game board and playing pieces therefor



m 1953 w. M. NELSON ET AL 2,819,904

GAME BOARD AND PLAYING PIECES THEREFOR Filed May 17, 1956 l IWENTQRS I e 032 27 5 6: Pa genkari? ATTORNEYS Unite States atnt GAME BOARD AND PLAYING PIECES THEREFOR Walter M. Nelson and Leonard C. Pagenhardt, Roanoke, Va.

Application May 17, 1956, Serial No. 585,457

1 Claim. (Q1. 273130) This invention relates to a game embodying a game board and movable game pieces.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved game which is formed of a flat portion with a plurality of embedded permanent magnets disposed in the board and covered by a suitable covering which is colored or marked so as to simulate the surface of a checker board or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a game or board having embedded therein magnets which are concealed between upper and lower covering sheets so that when the magnetic game pieces are moved on the upper surface of the board, the game pieces will in certain positions on the board be magnetically held against movement and in certain other positions the magnetic game pieces will be magnetically moved by reason of the repelling of the magnetic poles of the embedded and the movable magnets.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game board cnstructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the board.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

'Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a pair of game pieces in repelling position with respect to the embedded magnetic members carried by the board.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates generally a flat game board which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart circular openings 11. A plurality of permanent magnets 12 are adapted to be seated in and firmly secured in the recesses 11 with the upper and lower surfaces of the magnets 12 substantially flush with the upper and lower surfaces of the board 10. The upper surface of the board 10 is covered by means of a covering sheet 13 and the lower surface of the board 10 is covered by means of a covering sheet 14. The outer surfaces of the covering sheets 13 and 14 are divided into square playing areas 15 and 16 respectively, by means of colored painting, ink or the like. The playing areas 15 and 16 are formed as squares with adjacent squares of difierentiating colors.

In the playing of the game each player is given a plurality of magnetic game pieces generally indicated at 17. The game pieces 17 are adapted to be moved over the upper surface of the game board 10 within predetermined playing areas 15. In the positioning of the permanent magnets 12 within the board 10 these magnets are arranged with the poles thereof alternately arranged as shown at N and S in Fig. l. The game pieces 17 are preferably painted or otherwise colored so as to present a pleasing appearance, the colors having no intended relationship to the plurality of the magnetic game pieces, and permit ready sliding movement of the game pieces over the surface of the game board 10. The game pieces 17 have poles N and S which if positioned over an opposite pole of a board magnet 12 will be attracted to the embedded magnet 12. If the pole of game piece 17 is like a pole of a magnet 12 in the board 10, the game piece 17 will be repelled and must, therefore, be turned over to disclose a different color and transferred to the possession of the opposing player.

In the playing of the game each player is given five game pieces 17 with the game pieces given to one player of a color difierent from the game pieces given to the other player. The pieces are played alternately and the play on any particular square or playing area 15 must be adhered to. If the checker or game piece 17 will not seat on a particular square or area 15, then the game piece must be turned over and the other diflferentiating color goes to the credit of the other player. The color or player obtaining three set game pieces in a row wins the game.

The game presents a novel and mysterious element which is unpredictable due to the unpredictable arrangement of the magnetic force of the embedded magnets 12.

What is claimed is:

A game comprising a flat game board having a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart openings arranged in longitudinal and lateral rows thereacross, a permanent magnet in each opening, each magnet having either a north pole or a south pole facing upwardly, covering sheets for the top and bottom faces of the board concealing the magnet, the top covering sheet being divided into a plurality of playing squares, one square overlying each magnet, a plurality of magnetic game pieces, each having a north pole and a south pole, the game pieces being colored differently on opposite sides, the pieces having a side of one color uppermost being provided for one player, and the pieces having the other color uppermost being provided for his opponent, the coloring of the game pieces having no intended relation to the polarity thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,888,980 Dingledine Nov. 29, 1932 2,511,774 Goldsmith June 13, 1950 2,673,404 Abrahamson Mar. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,992 Great Britain 1868 

